Council concerned about liability as it considers making Diefenbaker Bridge wheelchair accessible
The City of Prince Albert has put a plan that would make Diefenbaker Bridge more wheelchair accessible on hold while they consider safety and legal obligations.
Currently, only the northbound approach from 12th Street West is wheelchair accessible, but control access roadways are making it difficult to change the other three access points.
According to a report written by the city’s manager of capital projects, those roadways give cars the right of way over pedestrians, and there is concern this could prove dangerous to pedestrians using a wheelchairs or walkers.
Mayor Greg Dionne expressed a desire to make the bridge more accessible, but was concerned about potential legal ramifications.
“If we leave it, and we have a sign there, ‘cross at your own risk,’ and they cross and get hit, is there some legal ramifications (for) to the city?” Dionne said during a debate on the matter in city council. “That’s my question, because if there isn’t any, then take (the barrier) down.”
For more on this story, please see the Dec. 31 print or e-edition of the Daily Herald.
